Recently, Indian teacher Rouble Nagi received the Global Teacher Prize 2026 during the World Government Summit.

About Global Teacher Prize:

• It is an annual awardpresented to an exceptional teacher who has made a significant impact on their students and community.
• It was established in 2014.
• The prize aims to highlight the importance of educatorsand recognize the outstanding contributions they make to society.

Eligibility and Criteria:

• It is open to teachers from all countries,working in various educational settings including public, private, and alternative schools.
• Candidates are evaluated based on their innovative teaching practices, achievements in the classroom, and efforts to improve the quality of education in their community.
• The selection process also considers the teacher’s impact on their students’learning and their ability to overcome challenging environments.

• Nomination:Teachers can be nominated by others or can apply themselves.
• Award:The award comes with a cash prize of $1 million, making it one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field of education.
• It is presented by GEMS Education and organised by the Varkey Foundationin collaboration with UNESCO.

• The World Governments Summit 2026 will be held from 3 to 5 February in Dubai under the theme “Shaping Future Governments”.

Key Points:

• Dubai will host the World Governments Summit 2026, marking the largest edition since its inception.
• The theme for 2026 is “Shaping Future Governments,” focusing on governance innovation and global collaboration.
• The summit will host over 6,000 participants, including more than 35 heads of state and government.
• Delegations from over 150 governments and more than 500 ministers are expected to attend.

Additional Information:

• World Governments Summit:

• • Established in 2013 as a global platform for governance dialogue.
  • Brings together world leaders, policymakers, experts, and international institutions.

• Dubai:

• • A global hub for diplomacy, innovation, and international summits.
  • Regular host of the World Governments Summit.

• Theme: Shaping Future Governments:

• • Focuses on future-ready governance models.
  • Emphasizes innovation, technology, and international cooperation.

Why Graça Machel?

Graça Machel, a Mozambican stateswoman and humanitarian, was chosen by an international jury chaired by former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon.

• Pioneering Education: As Mozambique’s first Minister of Education (1975), she increased primary and secondary school participation from 40% to over 90% for males and 75% for females.
• Protection of Children: In 1996, she authored a landmark UN report, “The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children,” which changed how the world protects children in war zones.
• Economic Empowerment: She founded the Graça Machel Trust in 2010 to promote women’s leadership, food security, and good governance across Africa.
• Global Leadership: She is a founding member of The Elders (an independent group of global leaders) and co-founded the NGO Girls Not Brides.
• Unique Historical Fact: She is the only woman in history to have been the First Lady of two different nations (Mozambique and South Africa).About the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Established in 1986, the prize is awarded annually by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust to recognize exceptional contributions to global peace and development.

Recent Past Recipients:

• 2024: Michelle Bachelet (Former President of Chile and UN Human Rights Chief).
• 2023: Daniel Barenboim (Pianist) and Ali Abu Awwad (Palestinian peace activist).
• 2022: Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Trained Nurses Association of India (for COVID-19 service).
• 2021: Pratham (NGO focused on education).

Awarding Body:

• Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, which promotes peace, development, and disarmament in honor of Indira Gandhi’s legacy.

Reason for the Award:

• Recognized for lifelong commitment to peace, human rights, and global security.
• Significant contributions in gender equality, nuclear disarmament, and diplomacy.
• Advocacy for human welfare, democracy, and environmental responsibility.

Significance of the Award:

• Honors individuals or organizations promoting peace, disarmament, and development
• Celebrates those who embody Indira Gandhi’s vision of justice, freedom, and equality.
• Highlights Menon’s dedication to building a fairer, freer, and more peaceful world.

About INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FOR PEACE, DISARMAMENT AND DEVELOPMENT:

• Instituted in 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust after her assassination in 1984.
• Awarded annually, usually on Indira Gandhi’s birth anniversary, November 19.

Purpose:

• Established to honor outstanding contributions to peace, development, and disarmament, reflecting the ideals of Indira Gandhi.
• Recognizes individuals or organizations working to promote social justice, equality, and global harmony.

First Recipient:

• The first award (1986) was conferred upon Alva Myrdal, a Swedish diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, for her work in disarmament and peace initiatives.

Selection Criteria:

• Contributions must advance peace, human development, and international cooperation.
• Focus on efforts that reduce conflict, promote social justice, and protect human rights.

About SHRI SHIVSHANKAR MENON:

• Senior Indian diplomat and former National Security Advisor (NSA) of India.
• Served as Foreign Secretary of India (2006–2009).
• Held key positions in UN organizations, including Executive Director of UN Women and other international assignments.

Education & Early Career:

• Educated at Stephen’s College, Delhi, and the University of Cambridge.
• Joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1972.
• Served in Indian missions in Japan, Sri Lanka, and the United States, among others.

Major Contributions:

• Played a pivotal role in India’s foreign policy, diplomacy, and national security strategies.
• Advocated for peace, conflict resolution, and human rights
• Worked to promote gender equality during his tenure at UN Women.
• Contributed to global nuclear disarmament discussions and security cooperation.

At the 2021 Summer Deaflympics (held in 2022 in Brazil), she made history by taking three gold medals in women’s singles, mixed doubles, and team event.

• In 2022, she was the first Indian woman Deaflympian to receive an Arjuna Award.

History of the Deaflympics:
The Deaflympics are an international multi-sport event, specifically a competition for athletes that are deaf or are hard of hearing. The Deaflympics are conducted by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) and the Deaflympics are organized under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) patronage.

First Deaflympics: 1924 in Paris, France, formerly known as the International Silent Games.

• Frequency: Once every four years, like the Olympics.

• Eligibility: Athletes must possess a hearing loss in their better ear of at least 55 dB.

• Significance: This event creates a platform for deaf athletes to compete at the highest level internationally and champion deaf sports, equality, and inclusivity in sports.

What is the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD):
The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) is the international governing body that organizes and oversees international sport competitions for deaf athletes, including the Deaflympics.

History and Purpose:
• Founding Date: 1924
• Founder: Eugène Rubens-Alcais, a French deaf sports advocate, organized the first international competition for deaf athletes in Paris.
• Purpose: To provide deaf athletes opportunities to compete at the international level and promote equality, inclusion, and awareness of deaf sports all over the world.

Structure:
• All national federations of sports for the deaf around the world make up the ICSD.
• Membership: The ICSD consists of more than 100 countries; each represented by its National Deaf Sports Federation.
• The ICSD also works closely with international federations and sports organizations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to seek recognition of deaf sports and free of standards of the sport which also applies to deaf sports.

The 71st National Film Awards ceremony was held recently, where President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2023) to veteran actor Mohanlal for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
The ceremony celebrated films and performances that not only entertained but also highlighted social and national values.

Key Highlights: 71st National Film Awards

Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023:

• Awarded to: Mohanlal
• Significance: Recognizes lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
• Mohanlal expressed, “For me, cinema is the rhythm of my soul. Jai Hind.”

President’s Address:

• Praised Mohanlal’s versatile acting, from gentle to intense roles.
• Appreciated films focusing on women’s struggles and empowerment.
• Stressed on:

• Adequate representation of women in central and regional jury panels.
• Cinema’s role in spreading awareness of social issues, especially among youth.
• Encouraging films focused on children, particularly girls.

• Highlight: Six child actors won awards this year.

Major Awards:

Best Actor Awards:

• Best Male Actor (shared):
  • Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan (Hindi)
  • Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail (Hindi)
• Best Female Actor:
  • Rani Mukerji for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway (Hindi)

Best Film Categories:

• Best Feature Film: 12th Fail (Hindi)
• Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Hindi), directed by Karan Johar, received the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
• Sam Bahadur (Hindi), directed by Meghna Gulzar, was honored as the Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values.
• Naal 2 (Marathi), directed by Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti, won the award for Best Children’s Film.
• Best Film in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comic Category: Hanu-Man (Telugu)

Best Direction and Cinematography:

• Sudipto Sen received the Best Director award for The Kerala Story (Hindi).
• Prasantanu Mohapatra won the Best Cinematography award for The Kerala Story (Hindi).

About Dadasaheb Phalke Award:

Introduction:

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest honor in cinema, given annually for outstanding lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
• It is presented by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• The award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke, who is considered the “Father of Indian Cinema” for directing India’s first full-length feature film Raja Harishchandra (1913).

History:

• Established: 1969, to commemorate the birth centenary of Dadasaheb Phalke.
• First recipient: Devika Rani, the first lady of Indian cinema, in 1969.
• Since then, the award has been presented annually to honor individuals for their lifetime contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

India is preparing to submit its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), called NDC 3.0, around November 10, 2025, at the start of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
These updates are expected to include stronger commitments, especially for improving energy efficiency and further reducing emissions intensity.
This step comes when global efforts are falling short of the Paris Agreement goal: to limit warming to below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, by the end of this century.

Previous Commitments – NDC 2.0 (2022 Update):

India updated its climate targets under the Paris Agreement in August 2022.
The key commitments were:

• Emission intensity reduction: India pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% compared to 2005 levels by 2030.
  Emission intensity refers to the amount of carbon emitted per unit of GDP, meaning India committed to cleaner economic growth even if total emissions continue to rise.
• Non-fossil fuel power capacity: India committed to achieving 50% of total installed power generation capacity from non-fossil fuel sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear.
• Carbon sink creation: India set a target to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through increased forest and tree cover.

Progress So Far:

India has reported significant progress to the UN:

• By 2019, India had already reduced emissions intensity by 33% compared to 2005 levels, showing steady movement toward the 2030 goal.
• By June 2025, India achieved 50% of total power generation capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, meeting the target five years ahead of schedule.

What to Expect from NDC 3.0:

The upcoming NDC 3.0 is expected to:

• Extend climate targets up to 2035, setting new and more ambitious goals.
• Focus on energy efficiency and sector-specific emission reduction strategies.
• Roll out the India Carbon Market in 2026, which will cover 13 major sectors like power, steel, cement, and transport.

Under this market mechanism:

• Each sector will have mandatory emission intensity reduction goals.
• Companies achieving extra reductions will earn emission reduction certificates, which can be sold to other companies that fail to meet their targets.
• This will create a market-driven approach to incentivize cleaner technologies and innovations.

Global Context:

Only 30 out of 190+ countries have submitted their updated NDCs ahead of COP30.

Key global developments:

• European Union (EU):

• It has a long-term goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
• It is debating its 2035 target, expected to be between 66.25% and 72.5% emissions reduction compared to 1990 levels.
• Finalization is delayed due to disagreements among major member states like France and Germany.

• Australia:

• Announced a 62% to 70% emissions cut below 2005 levels by 2035.

• Global temperature outlook:

• Even if all existing commitments are fully achieved, global temperatures are projected to rise by around 3°C by 2100, far exceeding the Paris Agreement target.

India Carbon Market (ICM):

The India Carbon Market, to be launched in 2026, will play a vital role in achieving NDC 3.0 targets.

Key features:

• Companies will be assigned emission reduction targets based on their sector.
• Overachievers will receive tradable credits, which can be sold.
• Underperformers will be required to purchase credits to meet their compliance obligations.

This will encourage industries to adopt cleaner practices while ensuring economic growth.

Sarvesh Kushare created history by becoming the first Indian high-jumper to qualify for the men’s high jump final at the World Athletics Championships 2025 held in Tokyo, Japan on September 14, 2025.

Key Points: Sarvesh Kushare

Historic Achievement:

• Sarvesh qualified for the 13-man final by clearing 2.25m on his second attempt.
• This made him the first Indian ever to reach the men’s high jump final at the world level.

Performance Highlights:

• Initial jump: Cleared 2.16m on the second attempt.
• Next: Cleared 2.21m on the second attempt.
• Final qualifying jump: 2.25m, matching top contenders.
• Achieved a personal best of 2.28m in the finals and finished joint-sixth.

Background:

• Age: 30 years
• From Nashik, Maharashtra; son of an onion farmer.
• Represented India at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Significant Upset in Qualifiers:

• Tokyo Olympics champion Gianmarco Tamberi failed to clear 2.21m and was eliminated.
• Paris Olympics gold medallist Hamish Kerr cleared 2.25m smoothly.

Key Developments & Milestones:

Pre-Independence & Post-Independence Era

• Early participation was mostly seen in the National Games and Inter-State meets.
• Indian high jumpers struggled to reach Olympic qualifying standards during the mid-20th century.

1980s–1990s: Rise of Anju Bobby George Era in Indian Athletics

• During this time, India started investing in athletics through Sports Authority of India (SAI) and National Athletics Coaching Camps.
• Though Anju Bobby George was a long jumper, her success brought attention to field events.
• High jumpers like Hari Shankar Roy began to emerge with improved performances.

2000s: National Records and Progress:

• Hari Shankar Roy:

• One of India’s most prominent high jumpers in the early 2000s.
• Set a national record of 2.25m in 2004 at the Asian All-Stars Meet in Singapore.
• This record stood for over 18 years, showing limited progress in this discipline at the elite level.

• Lack of world-class facilities and international exposure restricted Indian athletes from breaking into the global stage.

Recent Surge (2020 onwards):

• With the success of Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw) at Tokyo Olympics 2020, athletics received a major boost in funding and visibility.
• High jumpers started receiving better training camps, foreign coaches, and international competition exposure.

Sarvesh Kushare’s Historic Achievement (2025):

• Sarvesh Kushare, son of an onion farmer from Nashik, Maharashtra, made history by becoming the first Indian high jumper to qualify for the men’s high jump final at the World Athletics Championships (Tokyo, 2025).
• Cleared 2.25m in qualifiers and achieved a personal best of 2.28m in the finals, finishing joint-sixth.

This performance surpassed Hari Shankar Roy’s longstanding mark, setting a new benchmark for Indian athletics.

The 12th edition of the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup was hosted at the Hockey Stadium of Bihar Sports University in Rajgir, Bihar, between August 29 and September 7, 2025. 

Organized by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), it served as a qualifier for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, with the winner earning a direct berth and teams finishing second to sixth advancing to World Cup Qualifiers.

India clinched the title with a dominant 4–1 win over reigning champions South Korea in the Rajgir final.

History of the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup:

The Men’s Hockey Asia Cup, launched in 1982, is a quadrennial tournament organized by the AHF. Here’s a concise history:

Inception and Frequency: The tournament began in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1982 and is typically held every four years, though the 2022 edition was delayed due to COVID-19.

• Winners and Dominance: 

• South Korea has emerged as the most successful team, securing five championships in 1994, 1999, 2009, 2013, and 2022.
• India has secured four championships (2003, 2007, 2017, and 2025), with the latest in 2025 ending their title drought since 2017.
• Pakistan: 3 titles (1982, 1985, 1989), dominant in the early years.

Key Moments: Men’s Hockey Asia Cup

• 1982: Pakistan won the inaugural edition, defeating India.
• 2003-2007: India’s golden period with back-to-back titles under coaches Rajinder Singh and Joaquim Carvalho.
• 2017: India’s last win before 2025, defeating Malaysia in Dhaka.
• 2022: South Korea won, with India taking bronze, a reminder of their inconsistent form post major successes like the 2021 and 2024 Olympic bronzes.

Evolution: The tournament has grown from a regional event to a critical World Cup qualifier, increasing its stakes. The absence of Pakistan in 2025 dimmed the traditional rivalry, but emerging teams like China showed progress.

Records: 

• India and Pakistan have been consistent contenders, with India holding the highest world ranking among Asian teams.
• The 2025 edition saw India’s record 15-0 win over Kazakhstan, one of the largest margins in tournament history.

About the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF):

• Established in 1958 and based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) serves as the chief authority overseeing field hockey across Asia. 
• It oversees the development, promotion, and organization of hockey across the continent, managing 37 member associations.

National Sports Day 2025, observed on August 29, holds great importance as it honors the legacy of Indian sports. hockey legend, Major Dhyan Chand, who has to his name three Olympic gold medals and he has scored more than 400 goals.

•  He is known as the ‘Wizard of Hockey’ and secured three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
• The day brings out sports as an essential component in life and underscores the role of physical fitness, discipline in its citizens, team spirit in life, and endurance.
• It is a national challenge to the masses in order to have an active lifestyle and the significant role that sports play in shaping togetherness and patriotism.
• This was the initial event of this year 2012 in which this was celebrated. 

National Sports Day 2025 carries the theme ‘Sport to Promote Peaceful and Inclusive Societies,’ highlighting how sports can foster inclusion and harmony among people.

Key Modi Government Initiatives for Sports

The Modi government has introduced various programs to build the sports ecosystem in India with attention to developing grassroots, elite performance, infrastructure and governance. The initiatives you raised or mentioned, and also other schemes that fit these initiatives, are described below.

1. National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025

On July 1, 2025, the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 replaces the 2001 National Sports Policy, and seeks to transform India into a global sporting power by 2047, ahead of the 2036 Olympics. Its five pillars are:

• Global Excellence: Focuses on identifying and developing talents, coaching at the world-class level, sports science and reinforcing the National Sports Federations (NSFs) to achieve foreign success.
• Economic Development: Promotes sports tourism, manufacturing, startups, and private sector involvement through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• Social Development: Promotes inclusion by promoting women, tribal communities, weaker sections and people with disabilities, restoring the lost Indigenous games such as kho-kho and kabaddi.
• Participation of people: Mobilizes masses to engage in fitness campaigns, social activities and indexing fitness at school and work.
• Education Integration: Supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in that regard to integrate sports in education programs, draw to physical literacy, and sustain identification of talents in schools.

The policy is based on the whole-of-government approach, open governance, and integration of technology (e.g., AI and data analytics) that will not be financed directly to states with the idea of equal infrastructure access.

2. Khelo India Program

Khelo India is a flagship project to support grassroots sports and talent development launched in 2017. Key features include:

• Competitions: It also provides a competitive platform through organizing Khelo India Youth Games, University Games, Winter Games and Para Games.
• Talent Identification: Due to availability of talented young players, Scouts around the nation train and provide them with financial support.
• Infrastructure: Provide funding for the development and enhancement of sports facilities, especially in rural areas.
• Holistic Development: Integrates sports science, coaching, and athlete support for comprehensive growth.

It has significantly boosted opportunities for young athletes and aligns with NSP 2025’s vision.

3. Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)

TOPS was launched in 2014 and trains top sport performers to take part in major international games such as the Olympics and Paralympics. Key aspects include:

• Financial Support: Funds training, international exposure, top coaches, and facilities.
• Sports science and medical-Smart Training: 3 to 12 days of specially designed training.
• Achievements: Contributed to India winning seven gold, two silver, and four bronze medals at Tokyo 2020, and six medals—including one silver and five bronze—at Paris 2024.

TOPS is assuring the future champions of the medals with the resources of the world.

4. National Sports Governance Bill 2025

Although there is no particular National Sports Governance Bill 2025 that is verified in the available information, NSP 2025 highlights governance changes, which probably develops the National Sports Development Code (2011). These include:

• Governance Reforms: Enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in NSFs.
• Framework Monitoring: This involves setting up Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and setting targets that can be measured in a certain period of time.
• Sports Policy: Nurturing states to create sports policies that are consistent with NSP 2025.

One such bill could be expected to formalize these changes, including the autonomy of federation, athlete representation and anti doping policies.

Additional Schemes

Other initiatives complementing the above programs include:

• Fit India Movement (2019): Promotes fitness through: 
  • Campaigns like Fit India School Week, Freedom Run, and Cyclothon.
  • Fitness indices for schools, colleges, and workplaces.
  • Community engagement to make fitness a lifestyle choice.
• Sports Authority of India (SAI) Initiatives: 
  • National Centres of Excellence (NCoE): High-performance training centers.
  • SAI Training Centres (STCs) and Extension Centres: Regional hubs for talent development.
  • National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC): Identifies talent in rural and tribal areas.
• Promotion of Indigenous Games: Revives traditional sports like kho-kho, kabaddi, and mallakhamb under Khelo India and NSP 2025.
• Sports for Inclusivity: Programs to engage women, tribal communities, and persons with disabilities, including: 
  • Scholarships for female athletes.
  • Khelo India Para Games.
  • Community sports for economically weaker sections.
• Infrastructure Development: 
  • Modernizing major stadiums like Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
  • Building multi-sport complexes at block and district levels.

Critical Perspective

These undertakings are ambitious; however, there are infrastructural inadequacies in rural locations, the possibility of financial setbacks and effective implementation of governance to counter challenges such as the mismanagement of NSF. The NSP 2025 does not involve direct funding by the state, potentially causing tensions to resource-starved areas. Long term objectives such as the Olympics 2036 will be kept up through sustained investment and short-term trimester milestones (e.g. the 2036 Olympics must be won on one or more occasions).

Conclusion

The Modi government’s sports initiatives, including NSP 2025, Khelo India, TOPS, and governance reforms, provide a strong foundation to enhance India’s sports infrastructure and ecosystem, mindset and collaboration to build sports ecosystems that promote participation in sports at the grassroots up to elite performance and inclusiveness.